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AN ADDRESS 

DELIVERED IN WALES, OCTOBER 5, 1862 ; 

BEING 

THE CENTENNIAL ANNIYI^RSART 

OF THE 

Municipal Organization of the Town; 



WITH ADDITIONS AND EXTENSIONS UPON SOME MATTERS 

NEEDFUL TO BRING THE HISTORY OP THE TOWN 

DOWN TO JANUARY 1, 1866. 



TO WHlCn IS ANNEXED A 



'^ROLL OF HONOR,' 



BEING A CATALOGUE OP THE NAMES, ETC., OP SOLDIERS FROM 

THIS TOWN WHO SERVED IN THE ARMIES OP OUR 

GOVERNMEMT IN THE LATE CIVIL WAR. 



ABSALOM GARDNER. 



PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 



SPRINGFIELD: 
SAMUEL BOWLES & COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
18 6 6. 



ANNIYERSARY ADDRESS. 



i mm» » 



introductio:n'. 

Fellow Citizens and Toionsmen : 

It is the custom with many of the towns of our Com- 
monwealth, in some suitable way, to commemorate the 
centennial anniversaries of their settlement, or of their 
municipal organization. And this seems very appropri- 
ate, as showing in the people of this age a due apprecia- 
tion of the labors and toils of their ancestors — as mani- 
festing a magnanimous and ennobling sense of gratitude 
toward the pioneer settlers of our land, and the fathers 
and founders of our municipal establishments and civil 
institutions. Our fathers and our mothers, with great 
assiduity and heroic fortitude, and under many and great 
privations and discomforts, labored and toiled to trans- 
form a wilderness country, inhabited only by wild beasts 
and savages, into cultivated fields and fruitful lauds befit- 
ting the abode of civilized man, and to establish institu- 
tions worthy the character and conducive to the happiness 
of man in an enlightened and refined state. Is it not 
meet, then, that we, who are now reaping a rich harvest 
of benefits from the life-long toils of our ancestors, should 
devote an hour in manifesting a grateful recognition of 
those toils, and in commemorating the virtues of those 
noble souls who wisely laid the foundations of a very 
large share of our present civil and social enjoyments ? 



Since the date of the municipal organization of this 
town, a century has rolled its hundred years into the 
abyss of the past, the grave of Time, and long ago car- 
ried all the participators in the transactions of that day 
into 

" That undiscovered country, from whose bourn 
No traveler returns." 

And we, the descendants and successors of those noble 
actors, are here at this hour to devote a little time to 
the consideration of matters pertaining to the history of 
our town, not only contemporaneous with that event, but 
prior and posterior, together with some biographical 
sket(!hes of some of the first settlers, and other principal 
inhabitants of olden time. 

BRIMFIELD, ORIGINALLY 

Comprised the territory now included within the lines of 
the present towns of Brimfield, Monson, "Wales and Hol- 
land. In 1760 the west half of this domain was set ofi 
and incorporated as the "Town of Monson," Two years 
later, 1762, by act of the Collonial Legislature, another 
slice four miles wide, north and south, was dissevered 
from the parent town, upon the south side, and incor- 
porated into a separate municipality, by name of the 
"District of South Brimfield." 

MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION". 

On the 5th day of October, 1762, the people of the 
"District of South Brimfield," under the aforesaid act of 
incorporation, organized by the choice of the following 
municipal officers : 

Captain Joseph Blodgett, District Clerk ; Mr. Humphrey Need- 
ham, Deacon Humphrey Cram, Captain Anthony Needham, Mr. 
Nehemiah May, Mr. John Moulton, Selectmen ; Mr. Daniel Thomp- 
son, Constable. 

The two sections of this district, for some time after 
its organization, bore no other distinguishing appellation 
than 'the simple designations of " "West Part" and "East 



Part." But after a little time these "Parts "lost or 
changed their substantive names, retaining their designa- 
tory adjectives, in becoming organized and known as the 
"West Parish" and "East Parish " of South Brimfield. 
These parishes, however, continued as a single munici- 
pality for a term of twenty-one years, that was till 1783, 
when both came to feel that they had become "of age," 
and mutually agreed to separate, and their separation was 
authoritatively consummated by act of the State Legisla- 
ture of that year. By that act the East Parish was set ofi 
and incorporated as the "District of Holland," leaving 
the West Parish in area, four miles north and south, and 
three and one-half miles, very nearly, east and west, 
thenceforward to constitute the town of South Brimfield. 
In those days, it was customary in the division of 
towns, to incorporate the part set off, sometimes as a 
town and sometimes as a district. In either case the mu- 
nicipal rights and powers were the same, substantially, 
excepting only the right of representation in the Legisla- 
ture ; every town could send a representative — no district 
could do this. South Brimfield was incorporated a dis- 
trict in 1762 ; in 1775 the Legislature enlarged its powers 
to those of a town, and that year the town of South 
Brimfield sent her first representative to the " Great and 
General Court." 

CHANGE OF NAME. 

In 1827 the people of this town became desirous of 
changing their town's municipal name. One, and per- 
haps the principal reason creative of that desire, was the 
wish for a less prolix, a shorter name. A town meet- 
ing was held upon the subject, at which it was voted that 
the town should be named Clinton. This did not give 
satisfaction. Moreover, it had become whispered around 
that James L. Wales, Esq., one of our then most promi- 
nent citizens, had incorporated, or expressed a purpose to 
incorporate into his will, a clause making to the town a 



generous bequest. Aiiotlier town meeting was called, at 
which the action of the previous meeting was annulled, 
and whereat it was further voted that the name of the 
town should he "Wales. In accordance with this vote, 
and a petition based thereon, the General Court of 1828, 
by legislative enactment, changed the town's name, dis- 
carding that of South Brimfield, and in substitution giv- 
ing it that of Wales, which was, and is very palatable to 
all our people. And it may not be out of place here to 
add, that the anticipated legacy from the generous indi- 
vidual named was fully realized — the legacy of an estate 
that, since the town has had it in possession, has yielded 
the town an income of more than $4,000 over all ex- 
pense and trouble. 

But we will now retrace our steps backward to what 
was perhaps our most proper starting point. 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN. 

And here, anticipating the inquiry which the lover of 
antiquarian lore will first and most persistently press upon 
us, we are constrained in all candor and frankness to say, 
there is no known evidence extant by which it can now 
be determined precisely lohen, where, and by whom the very 
first settlement in this town was made. Nevertheless, in 
respect to all these matters, we can, by the aid of recorded 
facts and traditional sayings, approximate very near the 
marks of absolute certainty. 

The primeval settlers of this town did not keep diaries 
of their doings and concurrent events ; or if they did, the 
roll of 'years and the sweep of time long since consigned 
all their memoranda to that vast receptacle of by-gone 
occurrences, the pit of oblivion, and we are now none the 
wiser for them. All histories of first settlements and oc- 
currences of any region, written long subsequent to the 
times of such settlements and occurrences, are more or 
less encumbered, or their facts intermixed with romance 



and fiction, and no one may be able to separate the true 
from the false. Tradition, in regard to the outlines and 
prominent features of events long past, may be measura- 
bly reliable ; but when tradition stoops to dabble in the 
minutia of such events, her sayings are not trustworthy. 

Though, according to the most approved history, some 
settlements were eflected in the central, and perhaps other 
parts of the present town of Brimfield prior to 1720, yet 
there seems a lack of any conclusive evidence that any 
white settlers were permanently domiciled within the lines 
now circumscribing this town earlier than 1726, although 
there were sales, purchases, transfers, and a limited occu- 
pation of lands inside of these lines at an earlier day. 
For instance, the tract now generally known in our local 
parlance as the "Coburn Meadow," but then, called the 
" South Meadow," was occupied by the settlers in the 
now central part of Brimfield, very soon after settlement 
was there eflected, by the cutting of the grass there grown, 
and transporting the same to the place of that settlement, 
for feeding their beasts and herds. And it may not be 
inappropriate to say in this connection, that there is strong 
reason to believe, though not indubitable proof, that the 
first way fixed in this town for the travel of man and beast 
was upon the line of what we now call the " Old County 
Road," upon the east border of our town, and leading- 
direct from Brimfield center to the aforesaid " South 
Meadow." 

As to the matter of time, then, finding the same envel- 
oped in some obscurity, we rest upon the belief that the 
first settlement permanently fixed in this town was made 
in or about 1726. And, connectively with this, we are 
next to encounter these rugged questions— i^Aere, and hy 
lohom was that settlement made ? If we could brush away 
the somber shades of a hundred and thirty years by-gone, 
undoubtedly we might, with scrupulous exactness, cleter- 
mine these matters. But we cannot now undo the past, 
nor create facts for retrospective application. The most 



8 

we can do is to make the best possible use of the facts of 
which we now find ourselves in possession. 

There is satisfactory evidence, gleaned from recorded 
facts, that the elder John Bullen, with his family, was lo- 
cated in 1727, if not a year sooner, upon the premises now 
owned by the widow of our lately deceased townsman, 
Mr. Samuel L. Moulton, bordering on the Coburn Meadow ; 
and also, that, at the same time, the elder Anthony Need- 
ham, with his family, was domiciled upon the premises 
now constituting the homestead of our neighbor, Mr. Na- 
than Green, west of the Pond. That there were then 
other settlers in those localities, or elsewhere in the town, 
may be guessed, but not proved. Taking then the cri- 
teria which we have, and knowing of no other data war- 
ranting adverse conclusions, we feel irresistibly led to be- 
lieve that John Bullen and Anthony Needham were the 
first domiciliated in this town, and upon the premises al- 
ready indicated. Further than this, touching the matters 
in question, we cannot exhume anything reliable from 
under the rubbish of uncertainty that encumbers much of 
what in those early times occurred. Hence we pass on 
to our 

BIOaRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
■ The Needhams were evidently among the very first set- 
tlers of this town. Anthony was first here. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Molly Moulton, was sister of the 
four Moulton brothers soon to be mentioned as among the 
first permanent settlers of the place. They reared eleven 
children, six of whom were sons. The oldest of these 
was Captain Anthony, who married Rebecca Munger, a 
sister of the four Munger brothers, also soon to be named 
as among the earliest of our town's settlers. His home- 
stead comprised the farms in the west part of the town, 
and which afterward, divided, made the homesteads of our 
former highly respected townsmen, Alvin Needham and 
Cyrus Munger. Captain Anthony was a man greatly re- 



9 

spected,' was the first Eepresentative from South Brim- 
fielcl in the Massachusetts Legislature, and was the pro- 
genitor of some of the most noted and worthy of our 
town's former inhabitants, among whom may be named 
Mr. Alvin Xeedham, ah'cady mentioned, and .Alfred 
Needham, Esq. Another of the sons of Anthony, that 
was jSTehemiah, was forefather of our late highly esteemed 
townsman, Deacon Jonathan jSTeedham, and of several 
other ISTeedham families, now component parts of our 
community. A small, moss-covered stone, erected in 
memory of the eldest Anthony in our old burying-ground, 
and bearing the date most ancient of any stone there be- 
ing, tells us that he died July 2, 1768, aged 67. 

Humphrey Il^eedham, junior brother of Anthony, sen- 
ior, came hither direct from Salem, in 1728, as shown by 
a deed he then took from Nathaniel Munger, of a tract 
of land here which subsequently became his after-life 
homestead, and which, at a more modern day, being sub- 
divided, became the homesteads of our late respected 
townsmen, Danford and Orrin ISTeedham, who were his 
grandsons. He wedded Dorothy Munger, sister of the 
Munger brothers alluded to before, and they reared ten 
children, of whom our former much esteemed townsman, 
Mr. Stephen l^eedham, was the youngest. He was a 
man of high standing and character, and among the pub- 
lic offices he filled was that of Chairman of the Board of 
Selectmen of South Brimfield for some years next suc- 
ceeding its organization. 

From those two Kcedham brothers, Anthony and 
Humphrey, have descended all the N'eedhams of name 
and blood that have ever been dwellers in this town ; and 
here we leave them with this superadded statement, that 
the families and individuals of the name have been more 
numerous than those of any other name ever of the town. 

The BuLLENS were here cotemporaneously with the first 
of our settlers, and during the first sixty years of the 

town's history were prominent among the people here re- 

9. 



10 

siding, one of whom, David Bullen, grandson of the elder 
John, who has been hereinbefore mentioned as the cotem- 
porary of Anthony iN'eedbam in settlement here, was the 
representative from this town in the Legislature of 1780. 
The first death recorded as occurring in this town was that 
of Mary Bullen, daughter of John, senior, who died July 
15, 1735 ; but it is hardly presumable that this was actually 
the first occurrence of the kind in the place. The locality 
of the Bullen settlement here has been before pointed out. 
John, senior, and John, junior, and their wives, all died 
here, but all their posterity of the paternal name removed 
herefrom in 1785. 

Four Hunger brothers, Nathaniel, Elnathan, Samuel 
and Joseph, settled and reared large families here, and 
have sent forth their ofispriug into all sections of our 
country, yet only a single person, an unmarried female of 
ninety years, bearing the Munger name is now numbered 
among our town's population. Of those brothers. Dea- 
con Nathaniel was the senior. He was here in 1727 ; per- 
chance he came with John Bullen, whose eldest daughter, 
Elizabeth, he afterwards wedded. He settled, lived, died, 
and was buried upon what, in colloquial phrase, we now 
denominate the " Coburn Farm." He reared nine chil- 
dren to adult life, and had a host of more remote descend- 
ants ; was twice married, the last time in 1788, and died — 
no record telleth when, but sometime in the last decade 
of the 18th century. Pity that none of his posterity had 
the filial regard or gratitude to rear at his grave a simple 
granite or marble slab to indicate his place of burial, his 
age, and the date of his demise. His first son was Captain 
Jehial, a man of some distinguishing qualities, whose first 
wife was a sister, and his second a cousin, of our former 
honored inhabitant, Deacon Joel Eogers. He, with his 
family, emigrated in 1787 to Vermont. His fourth son was 
Deacon John, for many years a prominent citizen of the 
place, who succeeded his father in the ownership and occu- 
pancy of the paternal homestead whereon he died in the 



11 

early part of the present century, but no record or tomb- 
stone gives the exact time. Solomon Hunger, of whose 
^peculiarities and dire misfortunes some of us have recol- 
lections, was reputed the seventh, though shown by the 
old Brimfield town records to have been the sixth, son of 
ITathaniel. He died in February, 1829, aged 78. 

Elnathan, oldest brother of ISTathaniel, settled a mile 
and a half west of the central village of our town, had 
eight children, all sons but one, the youngest, who became 
the consort of our former very respectable townsman, Mr. 
Paul Stewart. His first son, Joel, perished in the revo- 
lutionary war. His second son, Darius Hunger, Esq., 
became in his meridian, perhaps the most distinguished 
personage then of the town. He represented the town 
four years in the State Legislature, being one year more 
than any other man of the town ever served in that office, 
and served as Chairman of the Selectmen thirteen years. 
He died November 21, 1815, aged 70. Deacon Daniel Hun- 
ger, Mr. Cyrus Hunger, and Hr. Amasa Hunger were all 
younger sons of Elnathan, and all prominent and highly 
respected citizens of our town, though Deacon Daniel 
left here in 1797. 

Deacon Samuel, brother of Nathaniel and Elnathan, 
was here in early life, settled, lived and died upon the 
premises at this day making the homestead of Mr. Arba 
Squier. He was the grandfather of the only person of 
the Hunger name now living in our town. 

Joseph, the junior of the four Hunger brothers afore- 
named, settled on the premises now constituting the 
homestead of Hr. Julius H. Lyon. His second wife, 
Naomi, was a daughter of the first Anthony Needham. 
They had a large family, all of whom removed to Ver- 
mont in 1780. 

The HouLTONS now of this town count but a small 
number, yet, reckoning from the start to the present, in 
families and individuals, they number more numerously 
than any other name except the Needhams. ^__ 



12 

Rev. Ebenezer Moiilton was here in 1728, if not earlier. 
It is said he was married and had one child when he came 
here. He made his primal settlement npon what for long 
time past has borne the distinguishing appellation of the 
" Old Wales Tavern Stand" and it is not an improbable 
saying of tradition, that he was the first man to erect the 
rude habitation upon, the first tiller of the soil and culti- 
vator of, the fields of that noted place. The biography of 
this man is deeply ingrained with the early ecclesiastical 
history of this town. He was an ardent and somewhat 
enthusiastic advocate and disseminator of the sentiments of 
the Baptists; and it was under his auspices, and through 
the instrumentality of him and his labors, chiefly, that 
the Baptist Church here was gathered and organized in 
1736. He was not then a regularly constituted minister 
of the denomination ; but he officiated as the religious 
teacher of that infant church till i^ovember 4, 1741, when 
he was formally ordained to the gospel ministry, and set 
over that church as their pastor. 

At that day there was no other church of the Baptist 
order anywhere in this region, and Mr. Moulton, in his 
zeal and laboriousness, in addition to his duties here, per- 
formed much of a sort of missionary service in the preach- 
ing and promulgation of his doctrine in the neighboring 
towns and regions. And in this service he was some- 
times made to feel the rod of persecution. On one occa- 
sion, at least, after the conclusion of one of his usually 
earnest and spirited discourses in the town of Sturbridge, 
he was abruptly arrested and restrained of his liberty for 
a brief term, as a heretic or religious fanatic, a disturber 
of the public tranquility and promoter of sedition. But 
probably he was guilty of no WTong in the matter, only 
as his independent, fearless expression of his own relig- 
ious sentiments was considered such, and that the action 
of the civil authorities in the case of his arrest was only 
an outbreak of the persecuting spirit which was not then 
shorn of all its malign power. 



13 

Mr. Moulton's pastorate continued with the church 
here twenty-two years, or till 1763, at which time he went 
hence to IsTova Scotia. He was absent from here some 
twenty years, during which time, the saying is, that he 
rendered some service as a chaplain in the British Kavy. 
If this saying be true, it tends to give a coloring of 
truthfulness to another legendary story concerning him, 
which is, that he was a tory during the time of our revo- 
lutionary struggle with Great Britain. About 1783 he 
returned hither, and here soon after died. His family 
left here with him in 1763, and none of them ever after 
returned here to tarry. 

Samuel Moulton, brother of Ebenezer, was here some 
years prior to his marriage, which, as says the record, 
was January 30, 1739, to Molly Haynes, of Brimfield, 
and became proprietor of a tract of land here, which he 
in part cleared up, and whereupon he erected a rude 
dwelling — having thus provided a home for a companion 
before taking one — a very judicious calculation. The 
tract he selected comprised the premises, or the lands 
now constituting the homestead of the widow and heits 
of our late respected townsman, Dr. Aaron Shaw. But 
not long after his marriage, he and his brother Ebenezer 
traded and exchanged residences, whereupon he became 
owner and occupant of what we term the "Old Wales 
Tavern Stand," upon which, as the legend has it, he 
opened, and for some years kept an inn, or house of pub- 
lic entertainment, the first ever kept in this town. He 
had eight children, one of whom, Robert, was the father 
of our present townsman, Mr. Horace Moulton. 

John Moulton, brother of Ebenezer and Samuel, was 
very early settled here, making his stand andj after-life 
home upon the place now being the residence of our 
neighbor, Mr. Henry Pratt, near the outlet of the Pond. 
He was a man of some note, was put upon the first Board 
of Selectmen of the town, and held other ofiices of honor 
and trust. He had six children. John Bounds Moulton, 



14 

who had the acquaintance of most of us, and who recently- 
died just over our town line in Staflbrd, was his grand- 
son. 

Freehorn Moulton, brother of the three Moultons that 
have been mentioned, settled primarily in this town on 
the farm at this day owned and occupied by Mr. Wm. L. 
ITeedham, and was the primeval occupant of those prem- 
ises. However, he did not stop there many years, but 
sold that estate and made another purchase of attract far- 
ther west, and there settled and became the forefather of 
a numerous race in that part of Monson called "Moulton 
Hill." Several families of his descendants have, at dif- 
ferent times, dwelt in this town, and among them that of 
our formerly very highly esteemed townsman, Mr. Jesse 
Moulton, who died, deeply lamented, l^ovember 28, 1815, 
in his meridian of life and usefulness. 

Contemporaneous with the settlement here of the four 
brothers afore-named, came Jonathan Moulton, reputed 
to have been a cousin of those brothers, and made his 
life-long settlement on what we call the "Hall Place," in 
the south-west section of the town. He left a numerous 
posterity, one of whom was our lately deceased towns- 
man, Mr. Needham Moulton, his grandson. 

There is a legendary saying that the l^feedhams, Mun- 
gers and Moultons all came hither from Salem. That the 
elder Humphrey Needham did so is conclusively shown, 
as has been before remarked; but the elder Anthony 
Needham resided some years in what is now Brimfield 
before fixing his permanent abode in this town. As for 
the four Moulton brothers who settled here, it may be 
said, there are strong reasons for believing that they were 
sons of Robert Moulton, senior, then a distinguished in- 
habitant of Brimfield, and the first Representative from 
that town in the Collonial Legislature after the town's 
incorporation in 1730. Il^evertheless, all those persons 
may have come originally, and to the original township 
of Brimfield, from Salem; and as their descendants all 



15 

have ever persistently claimed that derivation, it may not 
be an unreasonable conclusion that their traditionary 
claim is based in fact. 

The families of Johnsons, Jordans and Hoveys were 
among those foremost in making their domiciliary lodg- 
ment in this place, and some of these included persons 
of distinction, especially in the Baptist Church here in 
its juvenile years. But as none of them have now living 
descendants here to be interested in a development of 
their biographies, and as no particular public interest 
would be thereby subserved, we pass them by without 
the labor of digging out such facts as might be obtained 
from underneath the rubbish of uncertainty which en- 
shrouds their histories. 

The Collins families have never been numerous here, 
and the name has been extinct in our population for fifty 
years past, though the blood still courses in the veins of 
some of our people. ITathaniel Collins and Deborah 
Morgan were married March 31, 1730, which is the 
earliest marriage that can be found recorded of any par- 
ties resident in this town. They were among the emi- 
grants from Springfield to Brimfield, and fixed their 
home here immediately upon their marriage, upon the 
"Old Collins Place," half a mile south-east from the 
north-west corner of our town. There they lived, reared 
a family, and died at an advanced age. 

The Shaws were domiciled here at an early period. 
Two brothers, Joshua and Seth, held the title to a large 
tract lying upon either side of where now runs the line 
between this town and Brimfield, three-fourths of a mile 
east from the north-west corner of this town. Joshua 
settled on the Brimfield side of this tract, and Seth upon 
this town's side, in 1731, upon the premises now making 
the homestead of Mr. Eli Gardner. Seth remained here 
till 1736, then removed to Palmer. He had other broth- 
ers than Joshua, and perhaps parents then resident in 
Brimfield, and our present townsmen, Messrs. Daniel, 



16 

Calvin and Selim C. Shaw are among the descendants of 
tlie brothers of Seth. 

The other Shaws now of this town are of a different 
lineage. Most of these trace their origin to one John 
Shaw, who came hither from Grafton in 1752, and settled 
upon what is now the homestead of Mr. Sewell Shaw, 
who is grandson of the said John. He had two sons, 
John and Samuel; the first of these was father of our 
former respected townsman, Mr. Sylvanus Shaw, and the 
second was father of our much esteemed townsmen, 
Messrs. Aaron and Solomon Shaw, deceased, and Sewell 
Shaw, now living. 

The Gardneks bear an ancient family name of this 
town. In 1736 Seth Shaw traded lands with Humphrey 
Gardner of Palmer, whereupon Seth removed to Palmer, 
and Humphrey came hither. There is a legend to the fol- 
lowing purport touching this trade. Humphrey and his 
family were so vexed and troubled with idtches in Palmer 
that they could not endure their vexations and troubles, 
therefor was he induced to make the trade he did with 
Mr. Shaw, and to remove here. Whether he left those 
vexatious witches in Palmer, or whether they followed 
him hither, the legend saith not. Humphrey remained 
and died here, and all the lauds he acquired from Mr. 
Shaw in this town, have been owned and improved by 
him and his descendants of the Gardner name, from that 
day to this, a term of about 130 years. A parallel case 
the records of the town do not aflbrd. He reared three 
sons, Charles, William, and Humphrey. The two first of 
these remained, reared families, and died in this town ; 
Humphrey settled in the south part of Monson, there 
reared a family and died at an advanced age. 

A number of Davis families have been of this town, 
and divers their origin, or lines of descent. One or two 
only of these can be noticed. Captain Trustrum Davis is 
shown by olden records to have been here as early as 
1732, domiciled on what we designate as the "Houghton 



17 

Place," toward the north-east corner of the town, and he 
is reputed to have been the first settler upon that farm. 
He seems to have been a very active, prominent man of 
the place, for some thirty or more years, after which we 
hear no more of him or any of his family, except his 
daughter Sibyl, who became the first consort of the elder 
Asa Houghton. 

Our late highly esteemed townsman, Deacon Moses 
Davis, unrelated by any recognized ties of consanguinity 
to Captain Davis, came to this town from Charlton in 
1801 ; died here September 5, 1854, aged 85. He was Dea- 
con of the Congregational Church organized in this town, 
and was father of our present townsman, Mr. Moses 
Davis. 

The Greens of this town have been pretty numerous. 
They sprung from two sources. Thomas Greeu, son of 
one Thomas Green of Brimfield, came hither in 1737, and 
established his abode upon the lands now of the home- 
stead of Mr. William ISTelson, west of the pond. He was 
in some respects peculiar, and rather eccentric. Our for- 
mer townsmen, the elder Daniel and Aaron Green were 
his sons. Daniel was a chip of the old block ; his eccen- 
tricities were proverbial. 

Robert Green came here in 1743 from Tolland, Ct. 
October 11, 1744, he wedded Sarah Rogers, sister of Icha- 
bod and Deacon Joel Rogers, and fixed his after-life home 
in almost the extreme north-west corner of this town, his 
dwelling being but few rods south of that corner, and 
almost exactly upon ground through which now runs the 
line between this town and Monson. All the Greens that 
have dwelt in the western part of this town have de- 
scended from him, among whom are to be reckoned our 
former respected townsmen, Messrs. Joel, Amos and Reu- 
ben Green, his sons, with all the other families and per- 
sons to be counted as of their posterity. 

To one or two of the Brown families heretofore of this 
town must we give a passing notice. Among the early 
3 



18 

settlers here was one Robert Brown, who came hither 
from Brimfield, and was the first occupant of the old 
"Hassett Farm," now the homestead of Mr. Carlton L. 
Stebbins, upon which he remained and died. 

Robert Brown, Jr., son of Robert afore-mentioned, 
married Mary ISTeedham, daughter of Captain Anthony, 
and established his abode half a mile west of his father's 
residence, near Monson line. The closing chapter in his 
history, as avouched by tradition, makes his case in one 
particular so remarkable that the annals of the town 
afford no parallel. Upon a certain day he left his dwell- 
ing, giving his family no intimation or reason to suspect 
that anything new or strange was to occur ; his family 
knew not whither he went, and, though great efiort was 
made to find him, or ascertain what became of him, the 
sequel was, nothing ever after was seen or heard of him 
by his family, or any one else, that could be verified as 
certainty. 

The Carpenter^, though never numerous, were once 
noted here. "William Carpenter came hither about 1740, 
wedded Hannah ISTeedham, daughter of the first Anthony, 
reared a large family, abode here till 1782, then removed 
to Stafford, and there died March 9, 1809. His homestead 
in this town consisted of what we call the ""Walbridge 
Place," in the south-west quarter of the town, and he is 
credited with being the primitive occupant of that farm. 
Our old town records show that he generally ofliciated as 
Moderator of the Town Meetings of his day. He repre- 
sented the town of South Brimfield in the Convention of 
1780, for the formation of our State Constitution. It is 
not known that any of his posterity of name or blood 
have dwelt in this town for sixty years past. 

The Rogers families have been somewhat noted here, 
in regard to both numerical and characteristic matters. 
Two brothers, Ichabod and Joel, were the progenitors of 
all the Rogers family circles of this town. They came 
here from Windham, Ct., in 1748, and here remained and 



19 

died. Ichabod is shown by olden records to have had 
thirteen, and to have reared twelve children, eight of 
whom were sons. All ^ese sons bnt one married and 
had families here, and some of them very large families yet 
there is not now here one of the descendants of Ichabod of 
the Rogers name, and hardly a dozen of any other name. 
He settled in the centrally south part of the town, a mile 
from Stafford line, where he died January 19, 1800, aged 81. 

Deacon Joel Rogers, brother of Ichabod, has a long 
and an honorable record here in many respects. Not 
only was he honored with official station and trust in the 
Baptist Church, of which he was a very worthy member, 
but likewise by his townsmen, in the repeated bestowment 
of almost every municipal office of responsibility and 
trust ; and among the many tokens they gave him of their 
confidence and respect was that of selecting him to repre- 
sent the town in the General Court of 1797. He settled, 
and was the first settler, upon the place now being the 
homestead of Mr. Harding Gf. Back, in the north-western 
part of our town. Our present somewhat aged and much 
respected townsman, Mr. Joel Rogers, is his grandson. • 

Here we propose to digress a little from our wonted 
course, and briefly touch upon the matter of longevity, as 
relating comparatively to some individuals heretofore of 
our town. 

Samuel Shaw died here September 15, 1841, aged 92 
years. James Walker died here March 8, 1847, aged 94 
years, nearly. Deacon Joel Rogers died here June 1823, 
(no grave-stone or other record gives the day,) aged 94 
years and 8 months, being, as is believed, the oldest man 
that ever yet died in this town. 

Widow Marcika Needham, relict of Captain David Need* 
ham, died here May 20, 1853, aged 94 years. Widow 
Rebecca Bond died here July 22, 1845, aged 94| years. 
Widow Rachel Trask died here August 9, 1845, aged 
99 years, 1 month, 12 days, being, as is believed, the old- 
est 'person that ever died in this town. 



iL^ 



20 

Joshua Mellen, son of Eev. James Mellen, pastor of 
the Baptist Church here oue hundred 3^ears ago, was born 
here September 14, 1765, and died in Westborough in this 
State, February 22, 1858, aged 93years, 5 months, 8 days, 
an age greater than any other man born in this town is 
known to have gained. 

Annah N'eedham, daughter of Captain Anthony Need- 
ham, was born here March 2, 1742, and died in Union, 
Ct., in the year 1844, at an age of over 102 years, and she 
is believed to have attained to a greater age than any other 
person ever born in this town. 

The Fenton families of this town have been few, but to 
some extent distinguished. "William Fenton, of Irish 
birth, settled here in 1750, in the north-west part of our 
town, on land now making the homestead of Mr. Anson 
Baker, where he died IsTovember 14, 1804, aged 88. He 
married Anne Shaw, niece of Seth Shaw, of whom notice 
has been taken. They raised a family of two sons and 
seven daughters. 

John Fenton, first son of William, married Marcia 
M^jDulton, daughter of John Moulton, of whom some ac- 
count has before been given. He removed to Brimfield 
in 1792, where he reared a large family, and died Septem- 
ber 7, 1826, aged 66. 

Timothy Fenton, second son of William, remained upon 
the paternal homestead, married Sally Wales, daughter of 
Oliver Wales, senior, and died in this town October 23, 
1834, aged 70. He had no offspring. He was a man of 
considerable distinction in town ; held many of the most 
important town offices, and was the town's representative 
to the Legislature in 1819. 

The Nelsons have been quite numerous here in times 
past, though not so at this day. Our former much 
esteemed townsman, Mr. George Nelson, lived here nearly 
all his days, and died here October 13, 1841, aged 79. He 
descended from John Nelson, in early life a resident of 
Brimfield. "Uncle George," as we familiarly called him, 



21 

was all ifTelson, for his niotlier's maiden name was Eliza- 
beth N^elsou, as shown by the olden record of the connu- 
bial connection of herself and husband. His consort was 
Susan Fenton, daughter of William Fenton, of whom 
some account has been given. Of their eight children, 
all but one have either departed for the spirit land or be- 
come scattered about our country elsewhere than here. 

Most of the other IS'elsons hitherto of this town, not of 
the posterity of George, were, or are descended from Wil- 
liam IsTelsou, who settled here about 1740, upon the place 
where his son, our late respected townsman, Mr. Timothy 
iN'elson, lived and died. He reared ten children, nine of 
whom were sons. Our former townsman, Mr. Hezekiah 
Nelson, was, and our present townsman, Mr. William 
Nelson, is, grandson of William. 

Of the DiMMiCKS here, Shubal was the first, and pro- 
genitor of all the others. Shubal Dimmick came here 
from Mansfield, Ct., about 1750, and first settled upon 
what we call the "Royce Place," east of the pond. After- 
wards he erected and run a grist-mill, which stood nearly 
upon the site of Mr. Eden D. Shaw's newly erected 
factory building. From the erection of his mill, the brook 
whereon it stood, acquired, and for a half century there- 
after retained, the designated appellation of " Mill Brook," 
as is evinced by old records and deeds wherein mention 
thereof is made. He died in February, 1797, aged 82. 
He had two children — a son and a daughter. 

Gideon Dimmick, son of Shubal, was a respectable citi- 
zen of our town, and died here June 23, 1820, aged 69. 
He reared a large family, of whom Mr. James Dimmick, 
who recently died in this town, was one, and another is 
Mrs. Anson Soule, now living here at an age of nearly 
ninety years. 

The Winchesters must not be herein omitted, though 
none of the name or blood have lived here for the last 
fifty years. Captain Daniel Winchester came hither from 
Roxbury about 1758, and died here October 4, 1797, aged 



22 

64. He succeeded Mr. Dimmick in the ownership and 
occupancy of the "Eojce Place," where he many years 
kept a store, such as small country towns in those days 
afforded. He had no children. He was an active, influ- 
ential man ; was sent Delegate from South Brimfield 
to the Provincial Congress that convened in Salem Octo- 
ber 7, 1774 ; and twice represented the town in the State 
Legislature. 

Benjamin Winchester, nephew of Captain Daniel, was 
once a prominent inhabitant of this place, resided here 
about twenty-five years, then connected himself with the 
society of Shakers of Harvard, Mass., and removed thither 
with his family in 1815. 

Numerous Fisk families have abode in this town, all 
from one progenitor. Captain Asa Fisk, senior, who was 
an immigrant from Hampton, Ct., in 1762. His first lodg- 
ment here was upon the place which subsequently became 
noted as the "Wales Tavern Stand," where for a time he 
pursued the vocations of inn-holder and farmer. After 
that he purchased a large tract upon the elevated ground 
in the south part of the town, which has not inappropri- 
ately been called " Fisk Hill," and there made his after- 
life home upon the premises now being the homestead of 
Mr. Moses Davis. He was a man of much energy and 
decision of character, and in midlife exerted a largely 
controlling influence in the affairs of the town. He had 
eleven children, most of whom became heads of families 
here, and some of whom, particularly his sous, Captain 
Hezekiah and Captain Asa, became distinguished among 
the town's inhabitants. He died February 8, 1812 ; no 
record gives his age. 

Few have been the Andrews families of our town, but 
we give them a brief notice. Robert Andrews, the first 
of the name here, as conclusively proved by the old town 
records, came hither from Coventry, Ct., in 1761. He 
was domiciled on the "Farrington Place," contiguous to 
the northern extremity of the pond. In 1789 he emigra- 



23 

ted hence to the State of ISTew York ; and about the same 
time all his sons and their families, excepting his son 
Robert, removed from this place. Robert Andrews, 
junior, continued through life here, and died February 14, 
1838, aged 79. He married Eunice, daughter of Kehe- 
miah Needham, and made his residence in the central 
part of the south border of the town, upon a naturally 
uneven, rough, rocky farm, which, by judicious calcula- 
tions, unwearied and laborious industry, he made very 
fertile and productive. This farm, at his decease, became 
the homestead of his son Alvin, who died thereon, April 
4, 1862, aged 73, deeply lamented in his death, as he had 
been greatly honored and respected in life for his many 
virtues. 

The Wales families here seem next to command atten- 
tion. Oliver Wales, senior, came to this town from Union, 
Ct, in 1766, and here married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. 
James Lawrence ; staid here till 1778, when he swapped 
farms with his brother Elijah Wales, and returned to 
Union, and Elijah came hither. In 1787 these brothers 
again traded farms and exchanged residences, after which 
Oliver continued and died here March 23, 1816, at the 
age of 72. His residence here was upon the jDremises 
repeatedly hereinbefore mentioned as the "AVales Tavern 
Stand," whereupon he abode and followed the double 
vocation of farmer and inn-holder to the day of his 
demise. He was twice married and reared ten children 
to adult life. He was twice, 1800, 1801, chosen to repre- 
sent his town in the State Legislature. 

James Lawrence Wales, Esq., first son of Oliver, has 
already been honorably named as the donor of a liberal 
bequest to the town which bears his name. His many 
virtues, aside from the matter of his legac}^, will long hold 
him in the honoring recollections of his townsmen. He 
died July 3, 1840, aged 70, leaving no posterity. 

Our late highly esteemed townsman. Royal Wales, Esq.,' 
was the second son of Oliver. Several of his first adult 



24 

years lie abode here, then dwelt several years in Coventry, 
Ct., next lived some years in Brimfield, whence he returned 
hither in 1838, and died here August 30, 1857, aged 84. 
In his will he left a legacy of $500 to the Baptist Society 
of this place. He was thrice chosen representative from 
this town to the Legislature, that was in 1810 — 11 — 13. 

Captain Oliver Wales, third son of Oliver, senior, was 
an honored resident here till his removal hence to the 
West in 1838. He died in Indiana, September 26, 1855, 
at the age of 76 years. 

Rev. James Mellen, second pastor of the Baptist Church 
of this town, came hither from Framingham in 1765, and 
officiated in his pastoral and ministerial duties till 1769, 
when his health failing, he left the place for the seashore, 
hoping for a recuperation, or, at least, a check of the 
wasting malady then preying upon his vitals. But he 
survived his departure from here but a few weeks, and 
died very suddenly w^hile on a visit to his friends in Dover 
in this State, aged 37. He had one son born here, an 
account of whose death and longevity has already been 
given. 

Eev. Elijah Coddington, fourth pastor of the Baptist 
Church here, now claims our special consideration, because 
of his extraordinarily long term of pastoral service, and 
the strongly inwoven connection of his biography with 
the town's history. He came to this town from Middle- 
borough in 1773, and continued and died here, May 7, 
1830, at the ripe age of 88 years. He was married in 
Wrentham, iTovember 4, 1773, to Miss Sarah Heaton ; 
just one week after, November 11, he was ordained and 
installed pastor of the church here ; and on the 8th of 
December following he removed hithe'r his wife and effects. 
He filled the pastorate here fifty-three years ; served as 
Town Clerk two years ; as Chaplain of a regiment of our 
State militia ten years; and, as shown by his own private 
record-, officiated at three hundred and fifteen marriages. 
He was not, certainly not in his latter years, overborne 



25 

with bigotry; was possessed of rather liberal Christian 
sentiments and feelings ; was bland and affable- in social 
circles, and everybody liked him. For his ministerial 
services he was compensated by and in the way of volun- 
tary contributions, made up of such donations and pres- 
ents as the people saw fit to bestow. Anything of value, 
provisions for support of himself and family, labor npon 
his land, or aught beside, were always and very thankfully 
accepted. His practice was to keep an exact account of 
all his donations and presents, with the estimated value 
of the same, and at the close of each year read from his 
pulpit a synopsis of his account, so that all might know 
how much he received, and from whom the same was 
received. Everybody in town almost felt it a bounden 
duty to contribute to him something reasonable, annually. 
He had two children, daughters, one of whom was the 
first consort of Royal "Wales, Esq., the other the wife of 
our late respected townsman, Mr. James Babcoek. His 
old garabrel-roofed dwelling still may be seen upon the 
high ground at the northern extremity of the main street 
in the central village of our town. There may it long 
stand monumentally of its former reverend ancl venerable 
occupant. 

The HouGHTONS, though few, claim our consideration. 
The first of these was Asa Houghton, senior, who came 
to this town from Union, Ct., in 1779. His homestead 
was what we have called the "Houghton Place," then 
aforetime having been the place of residence of his father- 
in-law. Captain Trustrum Bavis. Upon this farm he 
lived, died, April 17, 1829, aged 87, and his remains, were 
interred agreeably to his own wishes. He was one of the 
sound, substantial yeomanry of the town, and much 
respected. He was the third representative from here in 
the Legislature of the State, 1784. He was followed in the 
ownership and occupancy of the old homestead by his son, 
Captain Asa Houghton, who, like his father, abode, died, 
April 2, 1855, aged 61, and was buried thereon. 
4 



26 

^Numerically large have been the Walker families of 
this town, and they nearly all sprung from Benjamin 
Walker, who came here from Briclgewater in 1777, and 
purchased a tract of land in the south-west quarter of the 
town, whereon he seated some of his sons, and at a later 
day, himself; for he was a ship-carpenter by trade and 
remained away, laboring at that employment till 1788, at 
which date he fixed his home here, continuing and dying 
here in 1816. His descendants that have dwelt here have 
nearly all and always resided in the immediate vicinity of 
his location. All his sons, James, Marshal, Joseph, Ben- 
jamin, and Linus, resided here more or less with their 
families, some of which were quite large. 

The Walbridge families here have not been many, nor 
very much distinguished. William Walbridge was pro- 
genitor of all the others of the name here living. Time of 
his first coming is not ascertained. Esther Shaw, said to 
have been a niece of Seth Shaw, made his first companion. 
They had several children — quarreled — separated — he 
went to Stafibrd and there staid some years — there he and 
his wife are said to have been divorced — after that he re- 
turned hither with another wife and family of children, 
remained and died here in May, 1807, aged 76. His sec- 
ond wife was Rebecca Moulton, daughter of Jonathan 
Moulton, whose settlement here has been briefly noticed. 
He abode and died upon what herein-before designated 
as the "Walbridge Place," in the south-west part of the 
town. 

Ames Walbridge, son of William by his second wife, 
succeeded his father as owner and occupant of the pater- 
nal homestead, whereon he died, July 27, 1851, aged 69. 
In midlife he was reckoned among the most prominent 
and substantial of our town's farming population. 

The Perry families here have always resided in the ex- 
treme south-east part of the town. Manasseh Perry came 
here from Douglas about 1770, and settled within a fur- 
long's length of the south-east corner of the town, where 



27 

he remained through his residue of life. His sons, Ab- 
ner, Josiah, Isaac, and Micah, all married and abode here 
with their families for a while, but subsequently scattered 
off, excepting Abner, who dwelt upon the premises now 
making the homestead of Mr. Oliver A. Perry, and who 
died here December 11, 1820, aged 60. He was the father 
of our late respectable townsman, Mr. Silas Perry. 

Captain Joseph Peny, between whom and Manasseh 
no ties of consanguinity were recognized, came hither 
from Sturbridge in 1795, staid here till 1802, then emi- 
grated to the then District, now State of Maine. His son, 
our late very worthy townsman, Mr. John Perry, remained 
here upon the premises now being the homestead of his 
son, Mr. Samuel B. Perry, and died here at the age of 64, 
September 8, 1844. 

The Tiffany families next command attention. James 
Tiffany, senior, came to this place from Douglas in or 
about 1780, continued here till 1795, then left. James 
Tiffany, junior, son of the first James, came here with his 
father, was here married in 1781, to Mary Howe, suc- 
ceeded Captain Winchester as owner and occupant of the 
"Roj-ce Place," and also in merchandising or store-keep- 
ing upon a small scale thereon, and died here March 25, 
1823, aged 62. His sons, Dexter, Lyman, Bela and Lor- 
iug, all became noted here and elsewhere in the world of 
business and trade, manufacturing, merchandising, and 
otherwise. 

Bela Tiffany, Esq., son of James, junior, was here in 
childhood and youth, and till 1808; was then off else- 
where in business till 1825, at which time he returned 
hither with his family, and here tarried till 1830, when he 
left again. He died in August, 1851, aged QQ — his death 
being the result of an injury in being thrown from his 
wagon as he was relurning from Palmer to his home in 
Southbridge. Though he was not faultless more than 
others, yet, as the originator of the first manufacturing 
establishment in this town, he is entitled to the honored 



28 

and grateful remembrance of all desirers of our town's 
prosperity. , We have now no right to say there would he 
at this time any cloth manufactories in this town, had it 
not been for the start and impetus given by him to that 
branch of industry; and he must be a dolt indeed who 
does not understand in some good degree the benefits by 
our town derived from the manufacturing business done 
in this place. 

The first of the Stewarts, that was James Stewart, 
came hither in 1780 from New Braiutree. He remained 
and died here. Among his descendants are to be num- 
bered some very good men that were counted with our 
town's inhabitants in days past. Of these maj' be named 
his son/Mr. Paul Stewart, who died February 22, 1851, 
aged 87, and his grandson. Captain Joseph Stewart, who 
died May 2, 1857, aged 69, both of whom were highly es- 
teemed by their neighbors and townsmen, for their moral 
rectitude and excellence of character. 

The "Wights bear not a name known here at a very 
early day. The first here was Mr. Daniel Wight, who 
came in 1791, from Wrentham, and who continued and 
died here, January 20, 1800, aged 46. He run a grist- 
mill here which stood upon the south side of the highway, 
and nearly opposite the dwelling-house of Mr. Warren 
Shaw. Captain Nathan Wight, a distant relative of Dan- 
iel, came hither from Dellingham in 1797 ; staid here till 
1820, then removed to Attica in Western New York, where 
he died in 1832, aged 75. His employment when here 
was in the agricultural line, in the cultivation and man- 
agement of his farm situated a mile and more west of the 
central village of our town. During a term of some years 
of his stay here he exerted much of a controlling influence 
in the affairs of the- town; but this influence was nearly, 
if not entirely, lost before he left the place. From him 
descends the ancestral line of all bearing the Wight name 
who have been dwellers in this town for the last fifty years. 

The Smiths, Thompsons and Eoyces, all of whom lat- 



29 

terly have been pretty numerous here, are modern comers, 
and of whom, for that reason, but few words will be said. 
Of most of the Smiths that have been or are here, the 
progenitor was our former respected townsman, Mr. James 
Smith, who came hither in 1800 from Brookfield, and 
died here September 3, 1834, aged 84. — Of most of the 
Thompsons resident here, the lineage goes back to our 
former esteemed inhabitant, Mr. Abner Thompson, who 
came to this place from Smithfield, Rhode Island, in 1807, 
and died here March 7, 1839, aged 78. — The Roijces here 
all came from our late respectable townsman, Mr. Joseph 
C. Royce, who came hither in 1815 from Mansfield, Ct., 
and here died December 1, 1845, at the age of 77 yeafs. 

OTHER SUBJECTS. 
"-Having already in our biographical sketches exceeded 
what may perhaps be deemed our reasonable limits, we 
will here break off that subject, and brie% notice some 
other matters appertaining to our town's history. 

PRACTICIKO PHYSICIANS. 
\First we will give a list of the names of all the duly 
constituted members of the Medical Fraternity that have 
ever been located in this town in the practice of their pro- 
fessional vocation, with the times of their being here 
superadded, which list is as follows : 

1. Dr. James Lawrence, here from 1746 to 1778, 32 years. 

2. Dr. Dudley Wade, « 1779 " 1783, 4 « 

3. Dr. Abel Sherman, « 1783 « 1786, 3 " 

4. Dr. Jeremiah Round, " 1787 " 1789, 2 « 

5. Dr. David Young, « 1790 " 1802, 12 " 

6. Dr. Ferdinand Lethbridge, « 1805 " 1811, 6 " 

7. Dr. Thadeus Fairbanks, " 1811" 1815, 4 « 

8. Dr. Daniel Tiffany, " 1812 « 1822, 10 « 

9. Dr. Aaron Shaw, " 1813 " 1845, 32 « 

10. Dr. John Smith, « 1815 « 1866, 51 " 

11. Dr. Cornelius M. Stewart, « 1846 « 1848, 2 « 



30 

A brief memorandiiin, biographically given of eacti of 
the individuals named in the foregoing catalogue, would 
not be out of place here ; but neither our limits nor our 
information in regard to some of the men will allow this 
to be done fully ; yet a few historic facts shall be given of 
some of them. 

Dr. James Lawrence came to this place from Killingly, 
Ct., in or about 1746, but before making a stand any- 
where, he went to the now central part of Brimfield, and 
made a survey of the situation and prospective condition 
of matters there, and considered these in comparison with 
the same in this place, and finally came to the conclusion 
that this was a "smarter place" than that, and conse- 
quently determined to, and did, here establish himself in 
his professional vocation, continuing here to the time of 
his demise, which was caused by small pox. May 14, 1778, 
at the age of 58 years. In his day and generation, he 
seems to havp been a very prominent and highly respect- 
able inhabitant of the place. 

Dr. David Young came here from "Worcester in 1790, 
and here located as a practicing physician. He afterwards 
opened a store and followed the business of a merchant. 
In progress of his vocations he became pecuniarily em- 
barrassed, which led him, in connection with Aaron Win- 
chester as an accomplice, to concoct a scheme of gross 
fraud and cheating, whereby to save his estate from his 
honest creditors, and for his own benefit. But this plot 
was blasted in its inceptive stage, or thwarted in its de- 
velopment, and the two conspirators in the fraud drew 
down upon their heads a storm of just indignation from 
their townsmen here; and a part of the sequel was, that 
Dr. Young hastily removed to Brimfield, declaring that he 
would never more live in this town. He died in Brim- 
field a few months after going thither, but his remains 
were brought here for interment by the side of his first 
consort, who was the daughter and only child of Darius 
Hunger, Esq. Undoubtedly both he and "Winchester, 



31 

from that transaction, learned that there was wisdom in 
the old commaudatory adage — "Let mischief alone be- 
fore it is meddled with." 

Dr. Ferdinand Lethbridge came to this town in 1805 
from Medway, and continued here to the time of his de- 
cease in 1811. His remains were taken to Medway for 
burial. He was a bachelor. 

Dr. Daniel Tiffany was not of the family, but a relative 
of the other Tiifanys that have been hereiu-before named; 
had his residence here two years, 1792-3, then left; re- 
turned in 1812, claiming to be of the medical brotherhood, 
continued here till 1822, then removed to "Webster. When 
here he abode in different localities, but mostly in the 
outskirts of the town, and when not professionally en- 
gaged gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was 
not regarded as superlatively smart or skillful, and did 
not have an extensive practice. 

Dr. Aaron Shaw first studied with Dr. Lethbridge; af- 
ter that studied and practiced some elsewhere; then, 1813, 
established himself in the vocation of his profession in 
this town, in which he continued with fair success to the 
time of his decease, July 17, 1845, at the age of 62 years. 
He was son of Samuel, and grandson of John Shaw, sen- 
ior, of whose settlement here an account has before been 
given. 

Dr. John Smith, though now living here at the age of 
80 years, but not in much professional service, shall not 
for that or any cause be passed by without a succinct but 
respectful notice. He is son of James Smith whose com- 
ing and residence here have been before herein considered. 
He commenced his professional labors in Maine, but came 
hither in 1815, and has been since then to this time, Jan- 
uary 1, 1866, a resident and medical practitioner in this 
town. His practice has been pretty extensive for a small 
place like this, and it is believed that most of our people 
have been quite well satisfied with his services. 



a2 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOEY, 
THE BAPTISTS, 
We have nb historic or traditional account of any move- 
ment here, by way of an association for religious purposes^ 
earlier than the organization of the Baptist Church here, 
October 4, 1736. This church, at the start, consisted of 
twenty-six members. The first deacons were Joseph Ilovey 
and Benjamin Johnson. During several years after their 
first pastor, Mr. Moulton, left them, in 1763, the church 
had many troubles, the members were divided in feeling 
if not in sentiment, some seceded, or perhaps had done 
so at a day earlier than that here indicated, and the church, 
for a time, became almost extinct. A reorganization of 
the church was eflfected in 1771, under the influence and 
labors of Mr. Ewing, their third pastor, after which they 
had more of peace and prosperity. The following is a 
list of pastors of this church to the present time : 

1. Eev. Ebenezer Moulton, from 

2. Rev. James Mellen, " 

3. Eev. William Ewing, '' 
, 4. Rev. Elijah Coddington, " 

5. Rev. Joshua Eveleth, " 

6. Rev. John M. Hunt, " 

7. Rev. Tubal Wakefield, " 

8. Rev. George Mixter, " 
-9. Rev. Warren Cooper, " 

10. Rev. Voluey Church, « 

11. Rev. Samuel R. Allard, « 

12. Rev. Henry H. Hazleton, " 
18. Rev. Sylvester Barrows, " 

14. Rev. Asa A. Robinson, " 

15. Eev. William S. Phillips, " 

16. Rev. Moses Curtis, " 

The seventeenth and present pastor of the church is. 
Rev. Justus Aldrich, who commenced his services in 
August, 1862. The present number of members of the 



1741 


to 


1763, 


22 years 


1765 


<( 


1769, 


4 .« 


1770 


» 


1772, 


2 « 


1773 


(( 


1826, 


53 « 


1826 


a 


1829, 


3 '♦ 


1829 


a 


1830, 


1 " 


1834 


a 


1836, 


2 « 


1836 


a 


1842, 


6 « 


1842 


li 


1843, 


1 « 


1843 


a 


1848, 


5 «•• 


184'8 


it 


1850, 


2 " 


1850 


li 


1851, 


1 « 


1851 


ii 


1852, 


1 « 


1852 


u 


1856, 


4 « 


1856 


a 


1860, 


H " 


1861 


u 


1862, 


U " 



33 

church is one hundred and fourteen, as shown by the offi- 
cial report made to the Sturbridge Association, to which 
it belongs, at its last session. These then are all the facts 
had in contemplation to be given concerning this church, 
excepting such as are inwoven in the biographical sketches 
before given of Rev. Messrs. Moulton, Mellen and Cod- 
dington, and also such as may come in what shall be said 
upon the subject of meeting-houses soon to be considered. 

CONGREGATIONALISTS. 

Though it is not now possible to brush away all the cob- 
webs of uncertainty that hang around the earl}' ecclesias- 
tical history of this town, yet it is not too much, nor un- 
reasonable to believe that, from our earliest history, there 
have existed here those who have held the sentiments, 
and considered themselves of the denomination usually in 
latter times styled "Orthodox Congregationalists," In- 
deed, it is a well ascertained fact that in the middle and 
latter part of the last century, a portion of the people 
here were of that order, and were connected with a church 
of their order then existing in the East Parish of the then 
town or district of South Brimfield, now Holland. But 
we have no data for determining the numbers or strength 
of this denomination here till about the close of the last, 
and commencement of the present century, when the 
Union Meeting-house was here built. Nor do we now 
know of the existence of any proof that this sect ever 
here had any organized religious associational connection 
prior to 1819, at which time they here organized a church 
of twelve members. This church never grew much, but 
lingered out a fragile existence of a few years, and then 
became extinct. This denomination never here had con- 
stant or regular preaching, but only that, and but little of 
that, which was occasional. ' 

UNIVERSALISTS. 
In the latter years of the last century, say from and 
after 1780, a goodly number of the people of this town 
5 



34 

became believers in the doctrine of Universal Restoration. 
Rev. Elhanan Winchester, once a Baptist, afterwards a 
distinguished Restorationist divine, was occasionally here. 
He was a son of Deacon Elhanan Winchester who lived 
here a short term ; and he also had three brothers and 
one sister then residing here ; besides. Captain Daniel 
Winchester, long a prominent and honored citizen here, 
was his uncle, consequently it seems reasonable to con- 
clude that he was first attracted hither to make visits to 
his relatives ; and as his custom was, when visiting here, 
he here preached more or less. His writings also, which 
were somewhat voluminous and interesting, were here- 
about quite extensively circulated and read. Under the 
influence of his preaching and writings, his doctrine was 
here planted, and here grew and spread considerably. At 
two or three diiferent times heretofore, the Universalists, 
or, as they were formerly called here, Restorationists, have 
had societies here organized, each of which endured for a 
few years, and then expired. They never had anything 
more than occasional preaching here, and not very much 
of that. 

The relative strength of the three denominations that 
have been mentioned, at the commencement of the pres- 
ent century, may be j,udged of with some approximation 
to accuracy by the shares each took in the Union Meeting- 
house by them then here built, whereof we shall very soon 
speak. There is now in this town no society or other 
organization of those holding the sentiments of the Uni- 
versalist denomination. 

METHODISTS. 

The primitive establishment of a Methodist Society and 
Church here occurred in 1830. The Rev. Horace Moul- 
ton was the first preacher of the order that ever regularly 
officiated in this town; and it was through the instru- 
mentality of him, by his labors and efibrts, chiefly, that 
such organizations were effected. He was a son of our 



35 

former highly esteemed townsman, Mr. Jesse Moulton, 
and a great-grandson of Freeborn Moulton, one of the 
pioneer settlers of our town, and of whom a concise ac- 
count has before been given. 

The Methodist Society here is of so recent origin, and 
everything of its history is so generally and so well known 
in our community, that it seems a work of supererogation, 
if not inappropriate, to elaborate any detailed statement of 
matters and things concerning the same. We will, there- 
fore, only add to what has thus far been said upon the sub- 
ject, a catalogue of the circuit preachers of the denomina- 
tion, that have hitherto officiated here, in connection with 
the dates and times of their here being. The list is as 
follows : 

1. Kev. Horace Moulton, here from 1830 to 1832, 2 years. 



2. 


Rev. Enoch Bradley, 


(( 


1832 


a 


1833, 


1 


3. 


Rev. Amasa Taylor, 


a 


1833 


« 


1835, 


2 


4. 


Rev. Horace Moulton, 


a 


1835 


(( 


1836, 


1 


5. 


Rev. Otis Wilder, 


u 


1836 


(I 


1837, 


1 


6. 


Rev. Joseph Lewis, 


ii 


1837 


i( 


1839, 


2 


7. 


Rev. Charles Virgin, 


u 


1839 


li 


1840, 


1 


8. 


Rev. William Gordon, 


(( 


1840 


11 


1842, 


2 


9. 


Rev. Thomas W. Gile, 


(( 


1842 


a 


1843, 


1 


10. 


Rev. Henry S. Shedd, 


a 


1843 


a 


1844, 


1 


11. 


Rev. Rufus P. Buffington 


> 


1844 


11 


1845, 


1 


12. 


Rev. Spencer Tileston, 


a 


1845 


a 


1846, 


a 


13. 


Rev. William A. Clapp, 


a 


1846 


(( 


1848, 


2 


14. 


Rev. Jarvis Wilson, 


(t 


1848 


(( 


1849, 


1 


15. 


Rev. John Ricketts, 


i( 


1849 


(( 


1851, 


2 


16. 


Rev. Daniel Atkins, 


i( 


1851 


u 


1853, 


2 


17. 


Rev. David Culver, 


(I 


in 




1853, 


i 


18. 


Rev. Andrew Baylies, 


a 


1857 


<c 


1858, 


1 


19. 


Rev. Silas Piper, 


i( 


1858 


n 


1861, 


3 


20. 


Rev. John Goodwin, 


a 


1861 


i( 


1862, 


1 


21. 


Rev. Moses P. Webster, 


u 


1862 


i( 


1864, 


2 


22. 


Rev. John Noon, 


<( 


1864 









i « 



' it may be proper here to remark, that, of the half dozen 
first tiamed preachers in the foregoing list, no one but 



36 

Mr. Moulton preached here steadily. Their labors were 
divided between the societies of this town and Monson, a 
portion of their time being given to each. 

MEETING-HOUSES. 

The erection and maintenance of meeting-houses claims 
attention, as a branch of the ecclesiastical history of the 
town. And, first, we will speak of what we will call the 
Central House, or the house that was intended to have 
been, but was not. During the four or five years next 
after the district of South Brimfield was severed from the 
parent town, which was in 1762, many district meetings 
were held to- devise and execute means and measures for 
building a meeting-house for the use of the whole district, 
and which should be centrally located, so as best to 
answer the purpose intended. And indeed that project 
was so far carried into execution, that the frame of such 
house was reared upon the west side of the old road that 
fringes the line that now divides this town and Holland, 
and about midway between the present north-east and 
south-east corners of this town. But the self-evident fact 
quickly burst upon the minds of the people, and yet not 
so quickly as seemingly it might have done, that a house 
there, in lieu of accommodating both sections of the dis- 
trict, in reality would accommodate neither. Hence the 
work was abruptly abandoned, and the frame that had 
been erected was never there inclosed, but was taken down, 
sold, and removed to Willington, Ct., and there appropri- 
ated to its originally intended use. This house was 
designed, as is nnderstood, to have been for the use and 
benefit of the " Standing Order," as the Congregationalists 
then were called, of which there were many in the "East 
Part," and some in the "West Part " of the district. 

The first Baptist House, and in fact the first of any order 
in this town erected, seems to have been built somewhere 
about 1760 — for no records can be found, nor other evi- 
dence written or oral, fixing the exact time. That house 



. 37 

stood very near the mfg^ of the present Baptist House. 
The occupancy of that house by the Baptists was continued 
till 1802, when its proprietors sold it to the town, and in 
October, 1803, by direction of the town, it was sub-divided 
into fourteen separate lots or parcels, all of which were 
sold at vendue for the gross sum of $105.80, after which 
each vendee took, removed, and disposed of, his pur- 
chased parcel of the old house. 

While the last mentioned house was being disposed of 
and removed as aforesaid, a new one was in process of 
construction, close by the side of the old one. This we 
shall denominate the Union House. It was built by the 
town, but upon an arrangement that the pews should be 
sold at public auction, and the proceeds be applied in 
liquidation of the cost of building, the town reserving the 
right of use of the house for town meetings and other 
municipal purposes. Another condition in the adjustment 
of the plan upon which the house was built, was, that the 
Sabbath-day use of it, from year to year, should be appor- 
tioned among the several different Christian denomina- 
tions that should purchase or hold pews therein, each 
denomination to have the right to occupy the house with 
preaching of its own order a number of Sabbaths in each 
year, proportionate to the value in pews that the members 
of each might, for the time being, possess or hold in the 
house, with this proviso superadded, that at any and all 
times when neither of the other denominations occupied 
the house upon the days assigned for such occupancy, the 
Baptists might rightfully occupy the same. The first 
apportionment among the denominational pew-holders 
was made in April, 1803, at which time the house was 
not finished, though the pews were previously sold ; and 
by that apportionment, for the first year's use of the 
house, thirty-two Sabbaths were assigned to the Baptists, 
twelve to the Universalists, and eight to the Congrega- 
tionalists. This Union House, in 1846, in accordance 
with the. provisions of a statute of our Commonwealth, 



38 . 

was appraised, and the pews of H^!f8nother denominational 
owners were purchased or taken at their appraised values 
by the Baptists, who repaired, remodeled, and put the 
same into its present form and condition, whereby it 
became wholly, and to this time so continues, a Baptist 
House, being the second house of that order that has 
existed in our town. 

The 31eihod(St House in this place was erected in 1832 
by voluntary contributions. In the outset it was very 
cheaply, and rather roughly done, but since then it has 
been made the subject of important renovations and im- 
provements, all of which matters are of so recent date as 
to supersede the necessity of any extended remarks upon 
the subject at this time. 

MANUFACTURES. 

BOOTS AND SHOES. 

No great amount of manufacturing has ever been done 
in this town, excepting the manufacture of boots and 
shoes and woolen cloths, and excepting also such manu- 
factures as have been done in private families for home 
consumption. The boot and shoe manufacture here was 
never very extensive, there being at no time more than a 
half dozen small shops, in each of which were employed 
from three or four to eight or ten hands, and a little work 
done by individuals outside the shops. At no time, per- 
haps, has more of this work been done in town than was 
done in 1836-7, at which time, within the space of a year, 
the amount done, as ascertained by the Assessors of the 
town, in compliance with a statutory requirement for ob- 
taining statistical information concerning certain branches 
&f industry, was : — 

Boots manufactured, 6,230 pairs. 

Shoes « 9,053 « 

Total, 15,283 -« 



39 

The cash value of fhese, upon the Assessor's estimate, 
was set down in the gross sum of $27,743. At the pres- 
ent time very little is being done in town in this branch 
of manufactures. 

MANUFACTURE OF WOOLEN CLOTHS. 
In 1828-9 buildings were erected, and other prepara- 
tions made for the maiiufacture of this description of 
goods. The moving spirits in this enterprise were Bela 
Tiffany, Esq., and Captain Oliver Wales. In 1830, before 
any work of manufacturing was done in the then newly 
erected mill. Tiffany sold out his estate in thiu town, and 
moved away. Soon after this, work was commenced and 
continued to a small extent, by Captain Wales and others, 
till 1885, when Messrs. R. P. Wales and J. W. Bliss of 
Brimiield bought the establishment, enlarged its capacities 
by putting therein more machinery, and made other im- 
provements in and about the same, and run it till Febru- 
ary, 1837, when the mill caught fire and Avas nearly all 
destroyed by the consuming element, except the stone 
walls. After this occurrence, nothing was done with the 
concern till 1839, when John W. Bliss, as half owner of 
the property, with Messrs. James L. AVales and Royal 
Wales, each owning a moiety of the other half, rebuilt 
the mill, and restocked it wdth machinery. In 1840 James 
L. Wales died, and Leonard B. Wight, as legatee of the 
deceased part-owner, became possessed of six shares of 
the company's stock, and in February, 1841, the three 
chief owners of the concern procured an act of incorpo- 
ration by name of the "Wales Manufacturing Company." 
And again in 1841 the business of the manufacture of 
satinet cloths was here commenced, and has been steadily 
continued to the present day. But there has recently been 
an entire change in the ownership of the establishment. 
In the autumn of 1865, the old comjDany sold the prop- 
erty to the three Rogers brothers, Joel H., Lafayette, 
and Clinton, who now own and run the mill, and trans- 



40 

act their business under the name and firm of "J. H. 
Rogers & Co." 

; Under " An Act to obtain the Industrial Statistics of 
the Commonwealth," of 1865, the Selectmen of the town 
officially ascertained and reported the amount and value 
of business done at this manufactory, in the year next pre- 
ceding May 1, 1865, to have been as follows : — 

Pounds of scoured wool used, . . . 50,000 

Gross value of stock used, .... $77,000 

Yards of satinet cloth made, .... 115,756 

Value of the cloths made, .... $115,756 

Number of hands employed : Males, . . 17 

Females, . 14 

Capitalinvested, $14,240 

In 1847 another manufacturing establishment for satinet 
goods was started in this town. The building first erected 
was small, sufficient only to receive one set of machines, 
which were put into it in 1848, and the work of manufac- 
turing therein commenced. The stockholders, at the 
start, were Esek Luther, Warren Sha'V, Elijah Shaw, 
Eden D. Shaw, Dwight W. Ellis, Alvin Andrews, and a 
Mr. "Woods of Stafibrd, Ct. Number of shares, 18. Capi- 
tal invested, $9,000. This company was incorporated 
April 17, 1848, by name of the "Shaw Manufacturing 
Company." In 1851 this company enlarged their mill by 
an addition thereto large enough to capacitate it to receive 
a second set of machines, which were immediately put 
therein. In 1856 the then existing company made a still 
further enlargement of their mill, making it sufficiently 
capacious to hold a third set of machines, which were 
soon therein set up. About 1860 the owners changed or 
altered their machinery so as to fit it for the manufacture 
of a sort of goods called "doeskins," in place of satinets, 
which since then they have continued to make. The 
Selectmen's ascertainment and report of the amount and 
value of business done in this mill, within the year named 



41 

in reference to the work done in the mill first mentioned, 
are to the following purport : — 

Pounds of scoured wool used, 
Gross value of stock used, . 
Yards of doeskins made, 
Value of the cloths made, . 
Number of hands employed : 



Capital invested, 



. 


82,000 


. 


. $141,480 


. 


. 139,800 


. 


$209,700 


Males, 


27 


Females, 


25 


. 


$18,000 



In 1860-61 Messrs. Elijah and Aaron Shaw erected and 
put in operation another small establishment for the man- 
ufacture of woolen goods. This mill was made, and still 
is, only of sufficient capacity to accommodate a single set 
of machines. These were put into it, and the work of 
cloth-making therein commenced in 1862. The article 
made is doeskins. Elijah Shaw is now sole owner of the 
concern. At this mill, the amount and value of the work 
done during the year named in reference to the other 
mills, and ascertained in manner as in the other cases, was 
the following: — 

Pounds of scoured wool used, .... 33,000 

Gross value of stock used, .... $57,000 

Yards of doeskins made, 52,750 

"Value of cloths made, $79,125 

Number of hands employed : Males, . . 11 

Females, . 9 

Capital invested, $9,000 

This establishment is designated by name of the "Dell 
Mill." 

About two years since, Messrs. Eden D. and Aaron 
Shaw commenced to build a fourth mill in town, and they 
have so far succeeded as to get up the main buildings, 
large enough to contain four sets of machines, and to get 
in one set now, January 1, 1866, just about being put in 
operation. This is also designed for the doeskin manu- 
facture. 

6 



42 

In August, 1865, Mr. Elijali Shaw started to build a 
fiftli factory here in our town, and he has ah-eady got up 
the walls, constructed of brick and stone, of the principal 
building, and when completed it will apparently be the 
largest and best mill in town. 

It may be proper here to say, that the stream upon 
which our mills are built is so small as to render necessary 
the use of steam, as a propelling force, in the drier parts 
of every season. 



EOLL OF HOIITOR: 

Being a catalogue of the names, with the terms of ser- 
vice, Regiments in which the service was rendered, and 
how and why the same was terminated, of soldiers from 
this town who served, or entered to serve not less than 
nine months, in the United States Army engaged in the 
late war against the Southern Rebellion: 

Jacob Barker, 2 years 9 months, 21st Connecticut, taken prisoner, was sick, dis- 
charged upon close of the war. 

Ezra P. Bowea, 2 years 11 months, 18th Connecticut, discharged after the ces- 
sation of hostilities. 

Hiram Bradtvay, 10 months, 4Gth Massachusetts, discharged at the close of his 
term. 

John C. Bnrley, 10 months, 51st Massachusetts, discharged at the close of his 
term. 

Elmer W. Carder, 1 year 10 months, 27th Massachusetts, wounded, discharged 
July 25, 1863, pensioned. 

Marcns M. Cliaflfee, 4 months, 4Gth Massachusetts, died of sickness, in the ser- 
vice, January 30, 1863, aged 20 years. 

Daniel W. Cole, 2 years 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, served to the end of 
the war, discharged. 

Horace Converse, 8 years 10 months, 21st Massachusetts and in Hospital, dis- 
charged after termination of the war. 

Harvey H. Converse, 3 years one month, 27 th Massachusetts, discharged after 
the rage of war had ceased. 

Edwin L. Crouch, 5 months, 34th Massachusetts, wounded, died in consequence. 
May 21, 1864, aged 26 years. 

George H. Villabcr, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged at the expiration 
of his term. 



43 

Charles Dimmick, 2 years, IGth and 11th Massachusetts, drafted, discharged 
upou termination of the war. 

Warren W. Eager, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged at the expiration 
of his term. 

William W. Earl, 3 years, 10th Massachusetts, first volunteer from this town, 
discharged at close of his term. 

Henry F. Feitou, 6 months, 61st Massachusetts, discharged after a peace had 
been conquered. 

John T. Gale, 2 years 4 months, 46th Massachusetts and 1st Massachusetts Cav- 
alry, discharged after the war closed. 

Eli J. Gardner, 2 years 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, wounded, recovered, 
discharged at the end of the war. 

Micliael Harrington, 2 years 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, deserted, joined a 
Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, discharged at close of the war. 

Amos Hobbs, 3 years, 21st Massachusetts, discharged upon expiration of his 
term. 

Edwin Hobbs, 2 years 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, discharged after the war 
had ended. 

George Holdsworth, 9 months, 22d Connecticut, went as a substitute, discharged 
at the end of his term. 

Edwin H. Johnson, 2 years 2 months, 2d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, dis- 
charged after the termination of the war. 

James A. Johnson, 1 year 9 months, 1st Connecticut Artillery, discharged after 
the war had terminated. 

Jnlins M. Lyon, Lieutenant, 1 year 2 months, 46th and 42d Massachusetts, each 
time discharged at close of his term. 

Lindorf W. Miller, 1 year 6 months, 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, discharged after 
the war had ceased. 

Peter W. Moore, 8 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged May 30, 1863, be- 
cause of sickness. 

Franlt Moore, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged at the close of his term. 

Lanriston L. Moulton, 10 months, 51st Massachusetts, discharged upon the ex- 
piration of his term. 

John A. Necdham, 2 years 2 months, 34th Massachusetts, killed in battle Octo- 
ber 13, 1864, aged nearly 23 years. 

W. Engene Necdham, 1 year 9 months, 1st Connecticut Artillery, discharged 
after the ending of the war. 

Watson W. Xeedham, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged after his term 
of service expired. 

Carlos Dt Ncodliam, 11 months, 4th Massachusetts, discharged after the termina- 
tion of the war. 

Willard B. IVcedham, 6 months, 34th Massachusetts, wounded May 15, 1864, 
taken prisoner, died soon after. 

Henry 0. Nelson, 1 year 2 months, 21st Massachusetts, disabled by sickness, 
discharged September 20, 1862. 

Boyal A.Nelson, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, wounded, recovered, discharged 
at end of his term. 



44 

William A. Phetteplace, 2 years 3 months, 34th Massachusetts, wounded, died 

two days after, October 21, 1864, aged 36 years. 
AQStin Pratt, 8 months, 34th Massachusetts, -wounded, died next day, September 

20, 1864, aged 48 years. 
Austin G. Pratt, 3 months, 16th Massachusetts, wounded, fell into the enemy's 
hands, no after report. 

Waterman Penry, 4 years, 21st Massachusetts, re-enhsted, discharged after the 
war ended. 

William J. RIcketts, 3 years, 21st Massachusetts, discharged upon the expiration 
of his term. 

Gilbert Boatb, 3 years, 21st Massachusetts, discharged after his term had 
expired. 

George H. Shaw, 3 years, 3d New Hampshire, discharged at the end of his term. 

James Smith, 9 months, 46th Massachusetts, left the service a little before his 
Regiment was discharged. 

George M. Stewart, Captain, 1 year 2 months, 46th and 42d Massachusetts, dis- 
charged each time at the close of his term. 

Henry H. Stewart, 2 years, 21st Massachusetts, taken prisoner, paroled, dis- 
charged for reason of sickness. 

Albert Stewart, 1 year 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, killed in battle. May 14, 
1864. 

John Taylor, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged at the end of his term. 

Charles F. Thompson, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged upon the ex- 
piration of his term. 

James M. Thompson, 2 years 11 months, 18th New York, discharged after the 
war had ceased to rage. 

Eli H. Thompson, 6 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged in March, 1863, be- 
cause of sickness. 

Merritt Towne, 3 years, 15th Massachusetts, wounded, discharged upon termina- 
tion of the war. 

William J. Vizard, 3 years, 5th New Tork and in Hospital, discharged upon 
close of the war. 

Porter Walbridge, 11 months, 15th Massachusetts, wounded, discharged, pen- 
sioned. 

George H. Walls, 3 years 2 months, 27 th Massachusetts, re-enlisted, died in the 
service of sickness, November 25, 1864. 

Emerson 0. Webber, 10 months, 46th Massachusetts, discharged after the ex- 
piration of his term. 

George G. Williams, 2 years 10 months, 34th Massachusetts, wounded, recovered, 
discharged after the war ended. 

Martin Y. B. Williams, 3 years 11 months, 11th Connecticut, discharged after 
the war was over, viz. October 19, 1865. 

Charles J. Woods, 2 years 3 months, 34th Massachusetts, killed in battle, Octo- 
ber 14, 1864, had both legs shot off. 

Franklin T. Wright, 1 year, 34th Massachusetts, discharged because of sicknessj 
August 12, 1863. 



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